May has been a surprisingly decent reading month (if a bit slow with reviews) despite how hectic it was when it came to classes. I have pretty much neglected the Bingo challenge and instead read whichever random book I fancied at the moment, which was probably for the best. Length-wise it was probably the most diverse of all, with everything from a short story anthology, to novellas, normal length novels, and a thousand page brick.
All in all, a good month.
Books finished:
- The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander: Short but beautiful. Read it if you’re interested in radium girls, elephants, pretty prose, and non-linear stories.
- Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson: Wanted an epic, got an epic, forgot how little patience I have for epics and almost regretted it a third through. Still enjoyed it overall but yeah. Decent enough, but not great.
- Yet another reread of The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles. I need to get around to the sequels. Badly.
- Hwarhath Stories: Transgressive Tales by Aliens by Eleanor Arnason: Some of the most creative worldbuilding I’ve seen, plus challenging assumptions about sexuality. Excellent.
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (ARC): I would say GO READ THIS NOW because it’s amazing and totally my type and the definition of achingly beautiful but it’s not out yet sooooo yeah. But worth a preorder for sure!
- The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro: That…did not go well. I usually like literary fantasy, but The Buried Giant was lacking in any elements that make a story interesting. Aside from the theme, there was nothing. I was bored to death. If you can do audio (I can’t), it may provide good material to relax or fall asleep to, otherwise not recommended.
- A Lady’s Desire by Lily Maxton: Sweet, adorable f/f romance novella about a rekindled friendship that turns out to be something more.
Currently reading:
- Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: Worth reading just because it’s set in 1920s Mexico. Also, if you like the trope of a god being helped by a girl who takes no shit, this is very likely a book for you.
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon: Very slow going because the paperback is A LITERAL BRICK. So unwieldy.
- Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones: I’m finding the prose and the ultra-polite way the characters talk somewhat dry and hard to read, but I guess that’s the historical aspect. It’s a bit frustrating regardless.
Books read this year: 24 (+ 7 rereads)
r/Fantasy Bingo Challenge progress: 5/25 (20%)
Hey, not too shabby on your bingo fantasy challenge! And I’m a little jelly, I can’t wait to read The Ten Thousand Doors of January!! I’m so glad it was a good read for you!
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yay for good months! looks like your reads spanned the spectrum from “ooooh” to “oooof” – here’s hoping June leans more towards the “ooooh” end 🤞
I am definitely here for “a god being helped by a girl who takes no shit” (which reminds me that I miss the Apollo books and should check when the next one is out, also still haven’t forgiven Rick Riordan for the last one but obviously gonna keep reading anywayyyy 😅)
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At least there were no DNFs this month which is progress – in April I had two! I actually enjoyed everything aside from Buried Giant, but the one oof there was…was a pretty big one, lol.
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YAY you are making good progress, and I hope you love Priory! I still haven’t picked it up because it is so thicc ahahaha
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I’m a bit over 100 pages in and loving it! But yes, it’s intimidatingly chonky 😓
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That’s about as far as I got in… with the excerpt. Since getting the FC I haven’t picked it up. I might check out the eBook from my library instead haha
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I’d highly recommend the ebook. I’m regretting the paperback soooo much rn.
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At least you were smart enough to get the paperback… I BOUGHT THE HARDCOVER
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Almost all books in this post are new to me :’) Except The Priory of the Orange Tree. I absolutely love that you include a short review, I instantly get a feel forthe books and if I want to read it 🙂 With Priory.. I’m way to intimidated to start it :’)
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